Board composition and enterprise risk management in the banking industry in Kenya

Abstract

The Kenyan banking sector has experienced a myriad of changes, both negative and positive. Being a developing economy, the sector’s efficiency and sustenance is vital to the country’s economy. Enterprise Risk Management and Board of Directors’ composition are both significant issues ensuring stable economies and avoiding corporate mishaps such as those witnessed in the Eron and Worldcom cases. ERM is measured in terms of financial performance. It is in this light that this study seeks to find the relationship between ERM and board composition in terms of gender, education, and board size. Based on the Shannon’s diversity test, the study establishes that the boards of Kenyan listed banks are not diversified in terms of gender and educational backgrounds in boards is quite minimal. The study also finds out that there exists a relationship between board composition and ERM.